Collapsible crate



(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. P. WILSON.

OOLLAPSIBLE CRATE. No. 592,944.

Patented Nov. 2, 1897.

Gillan g (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shet 2.

W. F. WILSON. GOLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

Patented Nov. 2, 1897.

. 75 03:? Z Z E Z Y W "*ii 1 i T T j u i ll i fiver Z071 /wm MZZw' flfiso cffif 2% c-i'liarl gy TnE uonms PETERfi co. pncnumnow WASHINGTON. n c

NITE

TATES ATENT FFIQ.

COLLAPSIBL E CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 592,944, dated November 2, 1897.

Application filed September 5, 1896. Serial No. 604,983. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. WILSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mount Vernon, in the county of l/Vestchester and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Collapsible Grates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in collapsible crates, and has for its object to provide a device of this description which may be readily folded into a small compass when not desired for use or when it is necessary to reship the same to the point from which it originally came after being emptied, and yet when such a crate is adjusted for use it will be as rigid and durable as crates of ordinary construction.

Another object of my invention is to provide a cheap and effective device for the use of excursionists in carrying food or other articles which are to be consumed before returning, thereby permitting the folding of the hamper or carrier, so as to occasion as little annoyance as possible when not in use.

With these ends in view this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, and then specifically designated by the claim.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will now be described in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective of a ventilated crate built in accordance with my improvement; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of the same when folded; Fig. 3, a sectional plan View when the crate is adjusted for use, the dotted lines representing the manner of folding; Fig. 4, a section at the line x a: of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 a similar view when the crate is folded.

In carrying out this invention I provide the sides A and B, here shown as made of latticework, but they may be made of plain boarding when a ventilated crate is not required, and to these sides are hinged the end sections 0 and D at E and F. is made in two halves and hinged together at G, so as to fold inward, as shown in Fig. 2.

Each of these sections Thus when no means are utilized for pre- Venting the inward folding of the sections they may be so folded, thereby bringing the sides A and B in close proximity to each other, as clearly shown. A bottom His hinged at I to the side B and adapted to be swung downward,so as to be brought horizontal when its movement is arrested, and it is supported by the cleats J, which are carried by the end sections, and when this bottom is thus brought into position it effectually prevents the inclosing of the end sections and therebyholds the crate rigidly in its adjusted position, as will be readily understood.

The top K of the crate is composed of two sections hinged together at L, and the narrow section M thereof is in turn hinged at N to the side B. When the crate is in its adjusted position, this top serves all the purposes of an ordinary top, and yet when the crate is collapsed the section M lies against the upper edges of the sides and end sections and the remainder of the .top folds against the side A, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, thus locking the parts t0gether,so that they cannot be accidentally opened without first swinging the cover upon its hinges, and, if found desirable, any suitable catch or look may be provided for securing the cover in both its folded position and adjusted position.

Should my improvement be used as a crate for the shipment of eggs and the like, the sides and ends thereof maybe made of boards and a partition arranged to divide the crate into two compartments for the reception of the paper cells usually utilized in egg-packin g.

By the use of my improvement a great advantage is gained, in that a crate after being shipped and emptied may be returned to the original point of shipment under the weight schedule of freight instead of the bulk schedule, thereby greatly reducing the cost of such reshipment and saving the expense which has heretofore been attendant upon shipping certain classes of goods in having to supply a new crate for every shipment, as well as the room necessary to store a large number of crates, and for some classes of business this is of the utmost importance.

In practice the cost of the manufacture of my improved crate is but little in advance of that necessary to produce the crates of ordinary construction, and they therefore may be used for all classes of shipping.

Another use to which myimprovement may be put is the production of collapsible hampers, and it is only necessary to make the same of such a size and of such material as to be readily portable and provide a suitable handle or handles therefor, and with such a device great convenience will be had by excursionists, in that after the contents of the crate have been disposed of the crate may be folded into a small compass and used as a seat.

Slight modifications might be made in the design here shown without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to this exact design.

Having thus fully described this invention, what is claimed as new and useful is In a crate, the sides A 13 provided with inwardly-turned offsets at their ends, end pieces C D each made in two parts, and which are hinged together at their centers, and hinged to the sides at their outer edges; the bottom H hinged at I to the side B, and the cleats J carried by said pieces 0 D by which the bot tom is supported in position, combined with a top K that is composed of a wide and a narrow section that are hinged together, the narrow section being just the width of the crate when it is folded together and the wide portion of the top serving as a lock to hold the parts in a folded position, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

VILLIAM F. \VILSON.

Vitnesses:

S. S. WILLIAMsoN, ED. W. IIEINsoHN. 

